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The Naturalist Society #1
The Naturalist Society
In this magical tale of self-discovery from New York Times bestselling author Carrie Vaughn, a young widow taps into the power that will change the world—if the man’s world she lives in doesn’t destroy her and her newfound friends first.
In the summer of 1880, the death of Beth Stanley’s husband puts her life’s work in jeopardy. The magic of Arcane Taxonomy dictates that every natural thing in the world, from weather to animals, can be labeled, and doing so grants the practitioner some of that subject’s unique power. But only men are permitted to train in this philosophy. Losing her husband means that Beth loses the name they put on her work—and any influence she might have wielded.
Brandon West and Anton Torrance are campaigning for their expedition to the South Pole, a mission that some believe could make a taxonomist all-powerful by tapping into the earth’s magnetic forces. Their late friend Harry Stanley’s knowledge and connections would have been instrumental, but when they attempt to take custody of his work, they find that it was never his at all.
Tied together by this secret and its implications, Beth, Bran, and Anton must find a way for Beth to use her talent for the good of the world, before she’s discovered by those who would lay claim to her rare potential—and her very freedom.
In the summer of 1880, the death of Beth Stanley’s husband puts her life’s work in jeopardy. The magic of Arcane Taxonomy dictates that every natural thing in the world, from weather to animals, can be labeled, and doing so grants the practitioner some of that subject’s unique power. But only men are permitted to train in this philosophy. Losing her husband means that Beth loses the name they put on her work—and any influence she might have wielded.
Brandon West and Anton Torrance are campaigning for their expedition to the South Pole, a mission that some believe could make a taxonomist all-powerful by tapping into the earth’s magnetic forces. Their late friend Harry Stanley’s knowledge and connections would have been instrumental, but when they attempt to take custody of his work, they find that it was never his at all.
Tied together by this secret and its implications, Beth, Bran, and Anton must find a way for Beth to use her talent for the good of the world, before she’s discovered by those who would lay claim to her rare potential—and her very freedom.
391 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 1, 2024
About the author
Carrie Vaughn
266 books4,486 followersCarrie Vaughn is the author more than twenty novels and over a hundred short stories. She's best known for her New York Times bestselling series of novels about a werewolf named Kitty who hosts a talk radio advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged. In 2018, she won the Philip K. Dick Award for Bannerless, a post-apocalyptic murder mystery. She's published over 20 novels and 100 short stories, two of which have been finalists for the Hugo Award. She's a contributor to the Wild Cards series of shared world superhero books edited by George R. R. Martin and a graduate of the Odyssey Fantasy Writing Workshop.
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
An Air Force brat, she survived her nomadic childhood and managed to put down roots in Boulder, Colorado, where she collects hobbies.
Visit her at www.carrievaughn.com
For writing advice and essays, check out her Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/carrievaughn
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 310 reviews
June 7, 2024
As a reader of the Kitty and the Midnight Hour series in my late teens, I was very excited to discover a new book by Vaughn and see what she was up to now.
Every word of this book is a love declaration from Vaughn to ornithology. You can see the research and the passion that went into learning about birds and great historical naturalists. It is lovely and made me want to play Wingspan.
The novel follows Beth, a recently widowed woman who was able to pursue her passion for arcane natural sciences in an 1800s era-like world, only "thanks" to her husband posing as the author of her findings. His death throws all of her life and future completely upside down.
This is a very pleasant and fast read with utterly perfect story structure, hitting all the beats at the right time with ideal foreshadowing, pacing, character emotional and exterior arcs. This book could really be used as a teaching device for plotting as it respects the 3 act structure to a T. This is what makes it such a smooth read, but does feel a little mechanic to someone who is familiar with the writing craft.
I would recommend to historical romance and romantasy fans.
I only give 3 stars as romance isn't my favorite genre, but I can imagine this book being adored by romance readers.
Every word of this book is a love declaration from Vaughn to ornithology. You can see the research and the passion that went into learning about birds and great historical naturalists. It is lovely and made me want to play Wingspan.
The novel follows Beth, a recently widowed woman who was able to pursue her passion for arcane natural sciences in an 1800s era-like world, only "thanks" to her husband posing as the author of her findings. His death throws all of her life and future completely upside down.
This is a very pleasant and fast read with utterly perfect story structure, hitting all the beats at the right time with ideal foreshadowing, pacing, character emotional and exterior arcs. This book could really be used as a teaching device for plotting as it respects the 3 act structure to a T. This is what makes it such a smooth read, but does feel a little mechanic to someone who is familiar with the writing craft.
I would recommend to historical romance and romantasy fans.
I only give 3 stars as romance isn't my favorite genre, but I can imagine this book being adored by romance readers.
December 9, 2024
I’m a bit at a loss to say what I liked/didn’t like here. Long story short- 1880s USA society gal thinks she has it all in Harry and his selfish marriage proposal. Golden boy turns out to be all tarnished tinsel and no crown, girl struggles, meets his friends who at first want to use her as well and then they come to appreciate her for her mind and the.book turns into sexy three ways?
What did I step into?
The reality is this girl-comes-into-her-own story is a big old mess and falls on the oldest of tropes- she chucks off her innocence and gets her power from sexual exploration (I’d say more manipulation, but that’s me).
So here’s the long rather than the short-
I liked the original premise, and totally bought it for what it was as we learn more about who Harry really is after the wedding.
I liked the idea of a woman studying on her own, being a self-taught naturalist with a love for birds and how back then there was thought to be no such thing as women of science and study. The addition of some such explorers capturing essences of the creatures they study to perform various feats of alchemy was well done.
The “fake history” of making real-life personages as Audubon, George Washington and members of Napoleon’s armies as capable of wielding this magic was richly detailed, but eventually I found myself wanting to skim those segments to get back to the real story.
Beth was a beautifully written character up until midpoint where she chucks her morals and starts thinking with her vagina after such a short and unfulfilling marriage to a man who married her only for her mind and took his sexual needs from any pretty boy he came across.
Saddling Beth with a (supposedly) charismatic (we never see it) incompetent idiot for the first few pages of the book is a big joke- Harry is literally an iceberg here in that only the tiniest fraction of his life is on the surface while the majority of that frozen block is after his death. He’s certainly a massive flaw given that his actions are supposed to be what the rest of the story is hinged upon? How can we take it on account his supposedly larger-than-life persona and using Beth for his own ego when he’s just a pawn everyone uses to try and control Beth after his egotistical death?
I quickly lost respect for Bran and Alton as a couple as soon as Bran strays into Beth’s knickers and manages to nail himself the best of both worlds where his lover says ah what the hell and they all get kinky.
The story does a poor job of showing Beth striving for her independence and flaunting societal roles, and then has her essentially taking the easy route of “If I can’t continue writing serious essays for scientific purposes as before, under her deceased husband’s name, or (heaven forbid) under her own name”, she starts writing fluff pieces in ladies’ magazines?
What happened to that “I am a woman of science no doubt about it” stance that she insisted on for the first half of the book?
Sadly, what started as a great idea just sunk under its own weight once the author decided that she was going to force these relationships together no matter what. The ends Beth then goes to in order to claim life by her own rules is ridiculously cheap, all this time having Bran and Anton as determined explorers who have conquered the frozen north and now determined to take on Antarctica even if that means these inseparable men and forced to chose between letting only one of them go when one becomes ill and the other sails off on his own so the other can play house with the Beth who is now pregnant with one of their babies? And somehow 18 months later he sails back triumphant for this odd family somehow going to find a place where a woman and two men can raise an impressionable toddler out and no one blinks an eye at the odd sleeping arrangements? Funny, did society somehow completely change moral compasses in that tiny space of time, because less than two years earlier such behavior got her tossed into a mental asylum,
What? Really?
Too many minor characters who are just one-dimensional stereotypes used just to force the plot in the direction the author wants. And by this point what’s really the point of all that “magic” because it’s just tossed around as another means of controlling the plot than feeling firmly as an established variation of this alternate reality.
By the end I really just wanted it to be over so I could move on, and I found myself growing more frustrated as the heroes fail to stay true to themselves and our aforementioned antagonist does a lousy job as the dastardly villain twirling his mustaches after tying the heroine to the railroad tracks in order to bypass hard work and trying to steal the damsel-in-distress’ brilliant deductions? And her family willingly listens to this stranger over the word of their daughter/sister/what-have-you?
Nope. Points for an original idea, but it’s not enough framework to take the weight of this mess.
What did I step into?
The reality is this girl-comes-into-her-own story is a big old mess and falls on the oldest of tropes- she chucks off her innocence and gets her power from sexual exploration (I’d say more manipulation, but that’s me).
So here’s the long rather than the short-
I liked the original premise, and totally bought it for what it was as we learn more about who Harry really is after the wedding.
I liked the idea of a woman studying on her own, being a self-taught naturalist with a love for birds and how back then there was thought to be no such thing as women of science and study. The addition of some such explorers capturing essences of the creatures they study to perform various feats of alchemy was well done.
The “fake history” of making real-life personages as Audubon, George Washington and members of Napoleon’s armies as capable of wielding this magic was richly detailed, but eventually I found myself wanting to skim those segments to get back to the real story.
Beth was a beautifully written character up until midpoint where she chucks her morals and starts thinking with her vagina after such a short and unfulfilling marriage to a man who married her only for her mind and took his sexual needs from any pretty boy he came across.
Saddling Beth with a (supposedly) charismatic (we never see it) incompetent idiot for the first few pages of the book is a big joke- Harry is literally an iceberg here in that only the tiniest fraction of his life is on the surface while the majority of that frozen block is after his death. He’s certainly a massive flaw given that his actions are supposed to be what the rest of the story is hinged upon? How can we take it on account his supposedly larger-than-life persona and using Beth for his own ego when he’s just a pawn everyone uses to try and control Beth after his egotistical death?
I quickly lost respect for Bran and Alton as a couple as soon as Bran strays into Beth’s knickers and manages to nail himself the best of both worlds where his lover says ah what the hell and they all get kinky.
The story does a poor job of showing Beth striving for her independence and flaunting societal roles, and then has her essentially taking the easy route of “If I can’t continue writing serious essays for scientific purposes as before, under her deceased husband’s name, or (heaven forbid) under her own name”, she starts writing fluff pieces in ladies’ magazines?
What happened to that “I am a woman of science no doubt about it” stance that she insisted on for the first half of the book?
Sadly, what started as a great idea just sunk under its own weight once the author decided that she was going to force these relationships together no matter what. The ends Beth then goes to in order to claim life by her own rules is ridiculously cheap, all this time having Bran and Anton as determined explorers who have conquered the frozen north and now determined to take on Antarctica even if that means these inseparable men and forced to chose between letting only one of them go when one becomes ill and the other sails off on his own so the other can play house with the Beth who is now pregnant with one of their babies? And somehow 18 months later he sails back triumphant for this odd family somehow going to find a place where a woman and two men can raise an impressionable toddler out and no one blinks an eye at the odd sleeping arrangements? Funny, did society somehow completely change moral compasses in that tiny space of time, because less than two years earlier such behavior got her tossed into a mental asylum,
What? Really?
Too many minor characters who are just one-dimensional stereotypes used just to force the plot in the direction the author wants. And by this point what’s really the point of all that “magic” because it’s just tossed around as another means of controlling the plot than feeling firmly as an established variation of this alternate reality.
By the end I really just wanted it to be over so I could move on, and I found myself growing more frustrated as the heroes fail to stay true to themselves and our aforementioned antagonist does a lousy job as the dastardly villain twirling his mustaches after tying the heroine to the railroad tracks in order to bypass hard work and trying to steal the damsel-in-distress’ brilliant deductions? And her family willingly listens to this stranger over the word of their daughter/sister/what-have-you?
Nope. Points for an original idea, but it’s not enough framework to take the weight of this mess.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 13, 2024
The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn is a magical story about nature and human nature featuring a love triangle, birds, arctic exploration, and what it means to honour your own nature in a 19th century world.
The story revolves around a magical practice called Arcane Taxonomy, in which some people known as Arcanist's can harness the powers of animals and plants as long as long as the natural specimen has been named and classified. Saying the Latin taxonomical name is how one can imbue themselves with the power of the animal or plant. For example, classifying a specific bird species can allow an Arcanist to be able to tap into the unique ability of that bird. This concept was original and fascinating and the interludes throughout the story about famous people from the past who may have been Arcanists, was the perfect way to add a touch of realism to this book. The whole time reading this story I couldn't help but wonder if there was or is such as thing as Arcane Taxonomy? I learned a lot about the science of naturalism and the 1880s setting was the perfect backdrop to explore this subject as the world was on the cusp of technological breakthroughs with nature and the environment paying the price.
The story revolves around three characters, Beth, Bran, and Anton, and the difficulties they encounter managing their abilities in a world that does not fully understand or accept them. Beth is a widow with an incredible gift in ornithology yet does not have the equal rights to be taken seriously in her field, needing to hide her interest and talents due to its societal impropriety. Bran is an artic explorer and Arcanist trying to get to the South Pole with his companion Anton in order to harness the earth's magnetic fields, which would empower an Arcanist in ways never seen before. His late friend and Beth's deceased husband was also a gifted Arcanist, who left behind a treasure trove of knowledge in the field, but meeting his widow Beth changes his entire perspective on Arcane Taxonomy... and love. Beth, Bran, and Anton are caught up in a love triangle, keeping their romance hidden all the while experimenting with their Arcane powers in a world that has rejected them in different ways.
I really enjoyed this story for being an original fantasy about naturalism. The subject was fascinating and the idea of harnessing power from nature offered an interesting perspective on what it means to master and exploit it. I liked how the author explored the natural vs unnatural themes within the context of 19th century America. I loved getting immersed in this story and looking at nature through the eyes of an Arcanist whose passion for understanding flora and fauna brought the story to life.
The Naturalist Society was a high concept historical fantasy that will make you love and appreciate the natural world and its powerful magical ability to survive, live, and thrive in a world full of humans seeking to harness it, for better and for worse.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
The story revolves around a magical practice called Arcane Taxonomy, in which some people known as Arcanist's can harness the powers of animals and plants as long as long as the natural specimen has been named and classified. Saying the Latin taxonomical name is how one can imbue themselves with the power of the animal or plant. For example, classifying a specific bird species can allow an Arcanist to be able to tap into the unique ability of that bird. This concept was original and fascinating and the interludes throughout the story about famous people from the past who may have been Arcanists, was the perfect way to add a touch of realism to this book. The whole time reading this story I couldn't help but wonder if there was or is such as thing as Arcane Taxonomy? I learned a lot about the science of naturalism and the 1880s setting was the perfect backdrop to explore this subject as the world was on the cusp of technological breakthroughs with nature and the environment paying the price.
The story revolves around three characters, Beth, Bran, and Anton, and the difficulties they encounter managing their abilities in a world that does not fully understand or accept them. Beth is a widow with an incredible gift in ornithology yet does not have the equal rights to be taken seriously in her field, needing to hide her interest and talents due to its societal impropriety. Bran is an artic explorer and Arcanist trying to get to the South Pole with his companion Anton in order to harness the earth's magnetic fields, which would empower an Arcanist in ways never seen before. His late friend and Beth's deceased husband was also a gifted Arcanist, who left behind a treasure trove of knowledge in the field, but meeting his widow Beth changes his entire perspective on Arcane Taxonomy... and love. Beth, Bran, and Anton are caught up in a love triangle, keeping their romance hidden all the while experimenting with their Arcane powers in a world that has rejected them in different ways.
I really enjoyed this story for being an original fantasy about naturalism. The subject was fascinating and the idea of harnessing power from nature offered an interesting perspective on what it means to master and exploit it. I liked how the author explored the natural vs unnatural themes within the context of 19th century America. I loved getting immersed in this story and looking at nature through the eyes of an Arcanist whose passion for understanding flora and fauna brought the story to life.
The Naturalist Society was a high concept historical fantasy that will make you love and appreciate the natural world and its powerful magical ability to survive, live, and thrive in a world full of humans seeking to harness it, for better and for worse.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with a free arc via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 2, 2024
A beautiful historical fantasy with a strong female lead, an unconventional but powerful love story, and so much gorgeous nature imagery and scientific information throughout. A must read for bird enthusiasts. Love the way this book had me looking up the species names with the beginning of each chapter. 😍
July 24, 2024
Nature has power, naming something has power. But a woman in the 1880s? No power.
As an Arcane Taxonomist, Beth can draw power from the natural world through studying the subject and knowing the proper Latin name. When Beth meets Henry Stanley she not only finds a husband, but someone who can be the face of her research while she plays the part of the proper lady. But, when only three years later Henry dies her whole plan goes up in smoke. She meets an Arcane Taxonomist, Brandon West, and an explorer, Anton Torrance who are working on funding a North Pole Expedition. After looking to get ahold of the late Henry Stanley's work, an unexpected relationship between the three forms.
As an environmental scientist, Carry Vaughn created a world I have regularly thought about. How could we as scientists draw power from nature? And as a woman, how could I be a scientist in a time where women were expected to care for little outside their family? I connected deeply with Beth and felt her emotional trauma.
I wish that the backstory of Arcane Taxonomy was a little more thorough. I did enjoy the mid-chapter descriptions of explorers who had used Arcane Taxonomy, but how is it something that is so new? Briefly, at the beginning, the use of Arcane Taxonomy by Innuits is talked about, but there must be other forms throughout the world or things that have been passed down. I was also not totally clear until the end how Arcane Taxonomy could be taught from one person to another.
Generally, I will warn future readers that if you are not interested in slow-paced Academia heavy books, this is NOT the book for you.
If you are a fan of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries you will likely also enjoy The Naturalist Society.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
Semi-spoiler tropes featured listed below:
Why choose, pansexual main character
As an Arcane Taxonomist, Beth can draw power from the natural world through studying the subject and knowing the proper Latin name. When Beth meets Henry Stanley she not only finds a husband, but someone who can be the face of her research while she plays the part of the proper lady. But, when only three years later Henry dies her whole plan goes up in smoke. She meets an Arcane Taxonomist, Brandon West, and an explorer, Anton Torrance who are working on funding a North Pole Expedition. After looking to get ahold of the late Henry Stanley's work, an unexpected relationship between the three forms.
As an environmental scientist, Carry Vaughn created a world I have regularly thought about. How could we as scientists draw power from nature? And as a woman, how could I be a scientist in a time where women were expected to care for little outside their family? I connected deeply with Beth and felt her emotional trauma.
I wish that the backstory of Arcane Taxonomy was a little more thorough. I did enjoy the mid-chapter descriptions of explorers who had used Arcane Taxonomy, but how is it something that is so new? Briefly, at the beginning, the use of Arcane Taxonomy by Innuits is talked about, but there must be other forms throughout the world or things that have been passed down. I was also not totally clear until the end how Arcane Taxonomy could be taught from one person to another.
Generally, I will warn future readers that if you are not interested in slow-paced Academia heavy books, this is NOT the book for you.
If you are a fan of Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries you will likely also enjoy The Naturalist Society.
Thank you Netgalley for the advanced reader copy.
Semi-spoiler tropes featured listed below:
Why choose, pansexual main character
November 4, 2024
3 stars??
A very well-paced book after a bit of a slow start. The story was interesting, and I cared enough to know the ending to finish in spite of it not being my cup of tea. It was well-written and obviously took an insane amount of research to write this book! Interspersed in the storyline were short “historical” chapters, which I enjoyed to begin with, but they weren’t important to the story and were heavy with detailed facts/names (I eventually skipped them, but then felt I never got a full picture of how the magic worked 😂).
I just think the blurb could have said something to hint at the actual contents of the book because I didn’t expect a romance, much less an… unconventional… romance. Since a large portion of this book was focused on the characters’ feelings for one another, it’s not my favorite at all. I found it especially bizarre how Beth’s character went from not knowing that anyone could be gay to engaging in a threesome with two men - without a second thought haha.
Ultimately several aspects of the ending didn’t sit right with me- Beth’s escape from the asylum and subsequent “disappearance” while spending her late husbands money (how did her family not freeze/control those accounts after locking her up!? They certainly could have looked at them!), Beth’s thriving on her own and making her way in society (as a woman who moved to a new area pregnant), Beth and Bran then living together unmarried with a child (still no issues???), and then the strong insinuation that she would live with TWO men she’s not married to (&and it’s all just gonna work out fine?!?)?? After the entire premise and plot line of the book being that unconventional people are shunned and forced out of society (I mean Beth was sent to an insane asylum on the sheer suggestion of scandal already!!!), we’re just going to pretend they can all do anything they like in public… because…? they are confident…? or happy….? It fell completely flat and was incredibly annoying. I would have MUCH preferred Beth to make her way in the world using her special abilities, knowledge, and expertise.
Anyways three stars because I loved the birds, exploration, history, and magical realism! This would have been a five star book without the romance!
A very well-paced book after a bit of a slow start. The story was interesting, and I cared enough to know the ending to finish in spite of it not being my cup of tea. It was well-written and obviously took an insane amount of research to write this book! Interspersed in the storyline were short “historical” chapters, which I enjoyed to begin with, but they weren’t important to the story and were heavy with detailed facts/names (I eventually skipped them, but then felt I never got a full picture of how the magic worked 😂).
I just think the blurb could have said something to hint at the actual contents of the book because I didn’t expect a romance, much less an… unconventional… romance. Since a large portion of this book was focused on the characters’ feelings for one another, it’s not my favorite at all. I found it especially bizarre how Beth’s character went from not knowing that anyone could be gay to engaging in a threesome with two men - without a second thought haha.
Ultimately several aspects of the ending didn’t sit right with me- Beth’s escape from the asylum and subsequent “disappearance” while spending her late husbands money (how did her family not freeze/control those accounts after locking her up!? They certainly could have looked at them!), Beth’s thriving on her own and making her way in society (as a woman who moved to a new area pregnant), Beth and Bran then living together unmarried with a child (still no issues???), and then the strong insinuation that she would live with TWO men she’s not married to (&and it’s all just gonna work out fine?!?)?? After the entire premise and plot line of the book being that unconventional people are shunned and forced out of society (I mean Beth was sent to an insane asylum on the sheer suggestion of scandal already!!!), we’re just going to pretend they can all do anything they like in public… because…? they are confident…? or happy….? It fell completely flat and was incredibly annoying. I would have MUCH preferred Beth to make her way in the world using her special abilities, knowledge, and expertise.
Anyways three stars because I loved the birds, exploration, history, and magical realism! This would have been a five star book without the romance!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 3, 2024
"The Naturalist Society is an unparalleled organization dedicated to knowledge and exploration, the city's (New York's) greatest gathering of men of science. Naturalists, explorers, travelers, writers, thinkers, professors, and fossil hunters. And of course the masters of the grand tradition of Arcane Taxonomy. On it's best days, this was the vanguard of human knowledge of nature in this part of the world. Its members were also scrambling for glory and fortune, every single one of them."
This was a beautiful story of forbidden love - both for a passion, thirst for knowledge, and for a life outside of the stifling constraints that is the patriarchal society in the 1800s.
None of our three protagonists are "straight, white, rich men" and so they suffer and adapt under the patriarchy.
Beth enters into a marriage of convenience with Harry Stanley, a renowned member of the Naturalist Society, so she can publish her findings and knowledge in his name.
"As long as she could have her journals, her studies, and her questions, she had been satisfied to leave her career to him. Their trips together had been a true joy (...) trips she would never have been able to make on her own but that no one questioned when she accompanied her husband. How brave she is, people said. How devoted they must be to each other. Look at them, they can't bear to be apart, and she puts up with wilderness without complaining for his sake. It was the other way around, really."
Bran West is born to a modest family outside of the big cities but is "a good naturalist and a better Arcane Taxonomist, but his family didn't have connections. Bran had studied with borrowed books and scraped together pennies to follow a destiny somewhere else." He only manages to gain proper respect when he survives a 2 year trip to Greenland with Anton.
Anton Torrance is the son of a British aristocrat and a woman from Bahamas where his father was stationed. Anton fought tooth and nail to get out from under his father's shadow and social standing, declined a job in his father's law firm so he can carve out a name for himself beyond his father's profession and name. But no matter how capable and accomplished he is "the one thing he couldn't control was how they looked at his brown skin: the raised eyebrow of scepticism, the stares of curiosity, the occasional flash of anger that he stood here at all, even after all he'd accomplished. That was why every other detail that he could control had to be perfect, presenting a picture of authority no one could deny."
And you know that "isn't it cute? Their friendship was so strong they lived together, grew old together, and got buried next to each other. Friendship goals!" Yeah, that's Bran and Anton's reality. Having to hide their relationship from the rest of the world, otherwise all their accomplishments will be deminished because of their "disease".
When Harry dies he leaves Beth without the shield of his presence or the 'diversion of children', so she must fight to both hide her powers as an Arcane Taxonomist, balance her new status as widow and evade the social pressure of getting a new husband. Oh My! Think of her reputation if she stayed a widow for the rest of her life, chasing her own pursuits, instead of folding to the expectations of the patriarchy.
And like sharks scent blood in the water, the members of the Naturalist Society scent glory and fortune by swooping in and spiriting away, of what they think is, all of Harry's unpublished research and other odds and ends. Even when Beth refuses she is still hounded by members since they think they can gain nuggets of power from the unfinished research and articles. This is how Beth meets Bran, and Anton. They are of the belief that Harry's ornithological knowledge can help them get the grant for their big trip to Antarctica.
For an Arcanist to gather an ability from a specific animal, it has to be collected/dead, or so it is presented, and the total collection of abilities an Arcanist gathers through life is lost when the person dies. The ability is strongest when an Arcanist names a new species, so everyone is scrambling to move past the frontiers, so they can get fame and power before it is lost to another, including Bran and Anton.
The fascination with Arcanist Taxonomy spills over as Arcanist lore into the rest of society and birds are given meaning, (fx. gulls supposedly symbolizes peace and grace when they, in actuality, are scavengers, but Beth likes them because they can weather storms), and they get incorporated into fashion. Therefore birds are killed for several reasons: hunts, arcane abilities, and fashion. Who doesn't like an entire bird wing adorning your hat? The loss of wildlife is mentioned on several occasions, even a specific extinct Antarctic penguin is mentioned. And is it worth it? Power and fashion in exchange for the entirety of a species?
You can tell a lot, like A LOT, of research has gone into writing this book! Not only the Latin names/designations of all of the animals (each chapter is a bird name), but also history, and deep understanding of nature. Between the chapters Arcane Taxonomy is weaved beautifully into historical events, from when it was first discovered, and how it was utilized, which shapes it takes depending upon the user. It is done so well I can do nothing but applaud Carrie Vaughn for her mastery of shaping all of this information into such an engaging story, with the trappings of social pressure on all fronts of society: everything needs to be on the correct shelf and if it's slightly off, you better remove it entirely and hide it away where the reputation can't get hurt.
This book was such a joy to read. 5 stars
Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!
October 28, 2024
I loved this novel. It had so many elements I love reading about – Maine, birds, history, reading, an intelligent woman, research, exploration, love and magic! This book had it all and I enjoyed every page. Vaughn’s characters and imaginative situations kept me turning pages and I really liked her writing style. Beth Stanley starts out as a very naïve character but learns so much throughout this novel. That’s all I’m saying about this wonderful story. I’m hoping there will be further writing with these characters, or at least about Ava.
October 27, 2024
Boring. I tried to read it because the reviews were good. I got 20% through and gave up.
November 2, 2024
I didn’t have high expectations for this book. I expected it to be a fun read about magic and nature. And it is. However what I didn’t expect was a queer book that served together natural history, exploration and gilded age New York. I was therefore really surprised at how fun the book was. It was especially interesting to read about bisexuality in a time where people didn’t have the same vocabulary that they do today. I honestly would have read this book anyway but the fact that it had a queer plot line made it even more enjoyable. Plus red poles. Those birds are frickin’ awesome.
October 26, 2024
eh
Can’t decide what it wants to be and the only thing done well is birds, birds, and more birds. Eh.
Can’t decide what it wants to be and the only thing done well is birds, birds, and more birds. Eh.
December 14, 2024
In a sense this is a female empowerment story like so many others in the genre these days, especially those dealing with the power of witches. But it's so much more.
It's late in the 19th century, and our focus is The Naturalist Society which builds on the legacy of Carl Linnaeus who developed the basic taxonomies for the natural world. However, in this world we have Arcane Taxonomists who gain their power from the names of the creatures they observe.
Gaining power from names in a well known fantasy trope, but here it is done fresh by marrying it to the paternalism and oppression of women of the 19th century. It is thought that only men can work Arcane spells, but of course there are powerful women, including our protagonist Beth Stanley, who can do it too, but are disregarded or suborned by the men.
Beth has been the power behind her husband Harry until he suddenly dies, leaving her without a method to pursue and publish her work. She meets up with two of Harry's friends, one an Arcane practitioner and the other a rugged explorer, who make a formidable team. It becomes clear they are more than just a team.
One thing that's impressive about this novel is the sexual politics. It sort of goes the way you expect, and then it expands outwards in unexpected ways. These three characters are extremely well drawn and memorable. The way they navigate their way through society while hiding secrets is nicely developed and strong. The way it goes horribly wrong for Beth is stunning, but true to life; women who did not fit into society's preconceptions were sometimes removed from society and sequestered away.
Finally, I want to say something about Carrie Vaughn's work.
She is best known for a series about Kitty, a werewolf who runs a late night radio call-in show. That premise never appealed to me. So I didn't discover Vaughn's work until a read her collection 'Amaryllis and Other Stories'. I moved on to read her novel 'Bannerless' (which won the Philip K. Dick Award for best original paperback publication of the year) and the follow-up, 'The Wild Dead'. The 'Bannerless' world felt as if it was something Le Guin could have written. Her Tor.com story 'That Game We Played During the War' dealt with the telepath vs. non-telepath situation as good as (if not better than) Bester's 'The Demolished Man'.
What I'm saying is, when Vaughn picks up a theme and style that suits her, she nails it. This book is no different. It is largely about birds (Beth is an excellent birder and observer), and deals with 19th century questions of evolution and whether a species can die out due to humans, as well as the female empowerment vs. repression issues. And then there's the manifestation of powers through invoking nature's creatures – very creative.
What I'm saying is, Vaughn is a reliably engaging and thoughtful writer regardless of story.
Sigh. I may have to go back and read the werewolf books after all.
It's late in the 19th century, and our focus is The Naturalist Society which builds on the legacy of Carl Linnaeus who developed the basic taxonomies for the natural world. However, in this world we have Arcane Taxonomists who gain their power from the names of the creatures they observe.
Gaining power from names in a well known fantasy trope, but here it is done fresh by marrying it to the paternalism and oppression of women of the 19th century. It is thought that only men can work Arcane spells, but of course there are powerful women, including our protagonist Beth Stanley, who can do it too, but are disregarded or suborned by the men.
Beth has been the power behind her husband Harry until he suddenly dies, leaving her without a method to pursue and publish her work. She meets up with two of Harry's friends, one an Arcane practitioner and the other a rugged explorer, who make a formidable team. It becomes clear they are more than just a team.
One thing that's impressive about this novel is the sexual politics. It sort of goes the way you expect, and then it expands outwards in unexpected ways. These three characters are extremely well drawn and memorable. The way they navigate their way through society while hiding secrets is nicely developed and strong. The way it goes horribly wrong for Beth is stunning, but true to life; women who did not fit into society's preconceptions were sometimes removed from society and sequestered away.
Finally, I want to say something about Carrie Vaughn's work.
She is best known for a series about Kitty, a werewolf who runs a late night radio call-in show. That premise never appealed to me. So I didn't discover Vaughn's work until a read her collection 'Amaryllis and Other Stories'. I moved on to read her novel 'Bannerless' (which won the Philip K. Dick Award for best original paperback publication of the year) and the follow-up, 'The Wild Dead'. The 'Bannerless' world felt as if it was something Le Guin could have written. Her Tor.com story 'That Game We Played During the War' dealt with the telepath vs. non-telepath situation as good as (if not better than) Bester's 'The Demolished Man'.
What I'm saying is, when Vaughn picks up a theme and style that suits her, she nails it. This book is no different. It is largely about birds (Beth is an excellent birder and observer), and deals with 19th century questions of evolution and whether a species can die out due to humans, as well as the female empowerment vs. repression issues. And then there's the manifestation of powers through invoking nature's creatures – very creative.
What I'm saying is, Vaughn is a reliably engaging and thoughtful writer regardless of story.
Sigh. I may have to go back and read the werewolf books after all.
November 17, 2024
I enjoyed reading this book - very different from other books I've read by her. This is a kind of alternate historical story of magic powers coming from identification of taxonomy of the natural world.
Also had a sort of romance story with alternate relationships. It was a bit more romance than I usually like but I did enjoy this.
Also had a sort of romance story with alternate relationships. It was a bit more romance than I usually like but I did enjoy this.
October 7, 2024
Carrie Vaughn shifts genres again. She is now venturing into historical fantasy in a novel which echoes Charlie N. Holmberg's Paper Magician series.
Of course, Vaughn being Vaughn, The Naturalist Society shows her own take on the subject.
First, anyone who has followed her for a while knows that she is a great birdwatcher, so the main characters search for the magic with each species. Her use of the Latin as well as the common name as part of the narrative can only be the result of her own knowledge of ornithology. (She has a short addition on bird sources at the end for anyone interested.)
Second, her world-building is centered on the real world to the extent that the fantasy part is believable. She blends history into the narrative both as references by the characters and through short (1 to 2 page) excerpts of what is perceived as authoritative texts. This is similar to what Asimov did in Foundation and Douglas Adams did in The Hitchhikers Guide. The result is creation of a world that is both known and also fantasy.
Third, the relations among the main characters are not the chaste world of Holmberg (this is not a criticism of her series, they are writing for different audiences). Carrie's characters have complicated and very adult romances.
This is listed on Amazon as the first of a two-book series. I have already pre-ordered the second book and cannot wait until it appears on my Kindle.
Of course, Vaughn being Vaughn, The Naturalist Society shows her own take on the subject.
First, anyone who has followed her for a while knows that she is a great birdwatcher, so the main characters search for the magic with each species. Her use of the Latin as well as the common name as part of the narrative can only be the result of her own knowledge of ornithology. (She has a short addition on bird sources at the end for anyone interested.)
Second, her world-building is centered on the real world to the extent that the fantasy part is believable. She blends history into the narrative both as references by the characters and through short (1 to 2 page) excerpts of what is perceived as authoritative texts. This is similar to what Asimov did in Foundation and Douglas Adams did in The Hitchhikers Guide. The result is creation of a world that is both known and also fantasy.
Third, the relations among the main characters are not the chaste world of Holmberg (this is not a criticism of her series, they are writing for different audiences). Carrie's characters have complicated and very adult romances.
This is listed on Amazon as the first of a two-book series. I have already pre-ordered the second book and cannot wait until it appears on my Kindle.
October 16, 2024
My second Kindle First read for October 2024. (Two this month!)
This has got to be one of the most original historicals novel I can remember reading...ever. I am definitely not a naturalist or birder of any kind, but I was enthralled with how Vaughn mixed science, the magic of arcane taxonomy, and human lives in late 19th century USA. The amount of research she did is impressive. The character development is strong, among the major characters and even some of the more minor ones.
I very much enjoyed reading about Beth's struggles as an intelligent, intellectual woman at the time. The descriptions of society life ring true, as well as the details of daily life. Similarly, but on a smaller scare, there are the racist incidents Anton has to weather. What a repressed and strict time.
I was less interested in the science aspects...but surprisingly more interested than I would have imagined. Kudos to the author.
My only criticism is that the characters--at times--used 21st century phrasing and vocabulary in their dialogue. I wish an editor had corrected that. I also felt that some of the earlier chapters went on a bit long; they could have tightened up a bit. Still, four stars for the creativity, the characters, and the plot tension in the latter part of the book.
This has got to be one of the most original historicals novel I can remember reading...ever. I am definitely not a naturalist or birder of any kind, but I was enthralled with how Vaughn mixed science, the magic of arcane taxonomy, and human lives in late 19th century USA. The amount of research she did is impressive. The character development is strong, among the major characters and even some of the more minor ones.
I very much enjoyed reading about Beth's struggles as an intelligent, intellectual woman at the time. The descriptions of society life ring true, as well as the details of daily life. Similarly, but on a smaller scare, there are the racist incidents Anton has to weather. What a repressed and strict time.
I was less interested in the science aspects...but surprisingly more interested than I would have imagined. Kudos to the author.
My only criticism is that the characters--at times--used 21st century phrasing and vocabulary in their dialogue. I wish an editor had corrected that. I also felt that some of the earlier chapters went on a bit long; they could have tightened up a bit. Still, four stars for the creativity, the characters, and the plot tension in the latter part of the book.
January 7, 2025
Overall okay. I'm not a birder, so I feel if you were you'd like it more
November 1, 2024
captivating and thoughtful
Really enjoyable, albeit non-traditional tale. Makes me want to become a bird-watcher. Well thought out characters despite historical setting. 🩵
Really enjoyable, albeit non-traditional tale. Makes me want to become a bird-watcher. Well thought out characters despite historical setting. 🩵
December 8, 2024
I LOVED THIS.
This was so up my street. I have a degree in Ecology so the idea of magical taxonomists is already appealing (and gave me a slight flashback to Babel with magic being drawn from linguistics). I also picked up a sudden interest in British polar exploration this year after being at the red carpet premiere of "Endurance" and visiting the Sir Walter Scott Polar Research Institute on a trip to Cambridge. So put magical taxonomists, polar exploration, and feminist STEM lady themes altogether and I'm hooked. I loved the writing and the characters. I breathe easy seeing this is listed as the first book of a series on Goodreads (although this book feels very stand alone tbh so we'll see about that).
This was so up my street. I have a degree in Ecology so the idea of magical taxonomists is already appealing (and gave me a slight flashback to Babel with magic being drawn from linguistics). I also picked up a sudden interest in British polar exploration this year after being at the red carpet premiere of "Endurance" and visiting the Sir Walter Scott Polar Research Institute on a trip to Cambridge. So put magical taxonomists, polar exploration, and feminist STEM lady themes altogether and I'm hooked. I loved the writing and the characters. I breathe easy seeing this is listed as the first book of a series on Goodreads (although this book feels very stand alone tbh so we'll see about that).
October 27, 2024
Naturalist
I wasn't sure how I would like this book, but I ended up loving it. Everything felt so natural. The love stories, the magic all came together seamlessly.
I wasn't sure how I would like this book, but I ended up loving it. Everything felt so natural. The love stories, the magic all came together seamlessly.
October 20, 2024
I honestly loved this book. As someone familiar with the era of the book when it comes to natural history and exploration it was a true delight with the bits of magic mixed in. The characters were a complex delight, and the love felt so real.
December 27, 2024
The overall story was okay. I could have done without the thruple. Not my cup of tea.
October 18, 2024
Quite possibly in the top 5 books for me this year.
October 27, 2024
Wanted it to be good. It wasn’t. Too ridiculous. Maybe everything wrapped up in the end but I’ll never know. Didn’t finish.
November 27, 2024
I loved this book - can’t wait for the sequel! It came out of the blue - it’s a love story with magic - it’s feminist and aware. It’s got real magic. It’s pretty surprising - unique setting - unpredictably exotic and erotic. Just read it.
October 20, 2024
DNF. Very silly with no plot. I read more than 1/2 of the book, so I did try.
October 18, 2024
Wasn't able to finish
The first chapter was decent. Second chapter wasn't for me. A disappointment since this was my first reads book I chose for this month.
The first chapter was decent. Second chapter wasn't for me. A disappointment since this was my first reads book I chose for this month.
December 2, 2024
I enjoyed the story of the horny bisexual bird wizards
Read
July 3, 2024oh my goodness !! I loved this book so much ! I knew I would love it when we first met Beth. The method of the arcanism was exciting, and that the author tied her love of birds into Beth's love was delightful. The idea of the taxonomical nomenclature giving you the power of the animal was interesting, I really liked the idea and versatility of it. It was disappointing that Beth couldn't put her own name on her work, but the work-around of using Harry's name was great, until he passed away.
When we met Brandon and Anton, we learned about their travels and how well they worked together on their expeditions. Wnen the two gentlemen meet Beth, I had great hopes for their continued acquaintance.
There are some twists and turns, a lot of frustration on my part regarding the lack of free will for women of that age, and some rollicking good times, as well.
If you like Carrie Vaughn's writing, if you like birds, if you like magic, if you like strong, independent women, you will LOVE this book !
When we met Brandon and Anton, we learned about their travels and how well they worked together on their expeditions. Wnen the two gentlemen meet Beth, I had great hopes for their continued acquaintance.
There are some twists and turns, a lot of frustration on my part regarding the lack of free will for women of that age, and some rollicking good times, as well.
If you like Carrie Vaughn's writing, if you like birds, if you like magic, if you like strong, independent women, you will LOVE this book !
November 3, 2024
I totally went into this one giving it the side eye, not sure what to expect, birds, set in the late 18oo's, but the author is a favorite of mine, so I wanted to check it out.
I was quickly drawn in, loved Beth and knew she would better fit into today's world, rather than the one she was in. She was so confined by society's norms. When she married Harry, so lost a bit of that confinement, but loosing Harry, they all came back in. Her family didn't understand her. She was lucky that she found Anton and Brandon, those men really got her, even if things started out a bit rocky.
Between the 3 of them, each was championing the others and their accomplishments and the men wanted just as much for her as she did. They were able to build something unusual, but it worked for them.
The ending was great, nice to see them back together and you know they will spend so much time talking about Anton's adventures and have so much fun doing it!
I was quickly drawn in, loved Beth and knew she would better fit into today's world, rather than the one she was in. She was so confined by society's norms. When she married Harry, so lost a bit of that confinement, but loosing Harry, they all came back in. Her family didn't understand her. She was lucky that she found Anton and Brandon, those men really got her, even if things started out a bit rocky.
Between the 3 of them, each was championing the others and their accomplishments and the men wanted just as much for her as she did. They were able to build something unusual, but it worked for them.
The ending was great, nice to see them back together and you know they will spend so much time talking about Anton's adventures and have so much fun doing it!
November 8, 2024
Historical fiction with a touch of magic, queer explorers running around doing their own thing. It reminded me a little of a watered-down Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell (not watered down in a bad way, that book is a CHALLENGE). It also reminded me a little of a show called Sanctuary starring Amanda Tapping, from the good old SyFy Channel days. In this case the beasts are birds, but still a similar vibe with the love triangle.
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